1836 – SECOND DAY OF THE SECOND EXPEDITION

We manage to find a great forest track which leads to P17 road near Unguriņi. This road is famous as one of the parts of Baltic Way. The trail, muddy and affected by tractor tires, is not marked on maps. It is very well suited for enduro motorcycles.

From Unguriņi, we continue through forest clearings right next to the border line in direction of Pīkas hill (105m). This might be one of the highest hills in close proximity to the border.

While searching for it, we visit Oliņi household and the kind owner Anita invites us for coffee and gives directions. Anita used to ride in her youth, she spent 16 years with Izh Planyeta.

Her husband, who passed away recently, was a member of Naukšēni motoclub and regularly attended motocross races. Anita services 20 hectares of land and 20 milk cows, which she milks with her hands. Her helpers are her grandchildren, the german shepherd Hubert, who has caught 17 racoons and 4 foxes, and the cat Bonis.

Anita doesn’t complain, she is lively and certain that everyone can find something to do in the Latvian countryside, you just must not sit on the fireplace and watch TV all the time.

Before Pīkas hill, we are suprised by heavy rainfall which leaves us soaking wet. We take the slippery mud trail uphill and there is a beautiful view towards Vidzeme highlands.

We find it strange that half of this important geographical site has been made into a gravel quarry. On top of the hill, there is a border mark from Tsarist times.

On a curvy road, we continue to Naukšēni, where we meet a local wine maker, Jānis. Jānis has taken over the establishment after his father’s death two years ago and looks into the future with certainty. In the past years, the old mill and ice basement has been renovated to house the production of quince, apple wine and cider. In beginning of the previous century, the ice basement was an important part of the beer brewery. For the duration of summer, they kept ice that was brought there from Rūja river in winter.

Naukšēni wine brewery is now considered a national success, having taken over the beer brewery that was well known until the 70s. These are the success stories that we found on Northern Latvian border and we hope they continue.